A review by jenmcmaynes
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes

4.0

In some ways, I don’t think this book was particularly successful in its stated aim of linking the scientists and poets of the romantic age in terms of philosophy, hopes, and beliefs. However, I immensely enjoyed the in-depth biographies of some of the leading scientists of the time that I was virtually ignorant of: Joseph Banks, William and Caroline Herschel, and Humphry Davy in particular. So I enjoyed it more as a snapshot of the science of the time and as a focus on these leading scientists than as a reflection on the goals stated in the subtitle. (Side note: I listened to an audio version and it was over 20 hours long. Much too long for the few hours a week I dedicate to audio books!)